By Andrew Rosario
Miami, Fla. – The National Football League was ready to showcase their biggest game of the year while celebrating their 100th year in existence. Both the Kansas City Royals and the San Francisco 49ers arrived Sunday afternoon and quickly found out the horrible news that Los Angeles Lakers super star Kobe Bryant along with his 13 year old daughter Gianna perished in a helicopter crash. 7 other passengers where among the fatalities. The outpouring of emotions was fast as current and former athletes expressed shock and horror at the news. Former president Barack Obama tweeted his sorrow. Magic Johnson called Bryant the “greatest Laker of all time”. Shaquille O’ Neal, who won 3 NBA titles with Bryant tweeted that “there are no words to express the pain I’m going through with this tragedy.” While teammates, both players had a on and off relationship that ended with Shaq being traded. Over the last couple of years, they resolved their differences.
On a personal note, I had the pleasure of meeting Kobe in August at the U.S. Open tennis tournament as he was promoting his latest children’s book. Unlike his playing days, when he could be standoffish, he was engaging and personable as he talked about like after basketball. The pride he took in raising his kids, showed when he mentioned them resulting in his golden smile. I remember where l was when l got the news that Yankees legend Thurman Munson was killed in a airplane crash. The sadness is the same.
Kobe, only 41, was taking his daughter, her teammate and their family to a basketball tournament when the unthinkable happened. The NBA just dealt with the death of ex-commissioner David Stern who was praised last week at Radio City Music Hall. Now the league is dealing with the untimely death of a true superstar. The NBA announced they will induct Kobe in the 2020 Hall of Fame instead of waiting the customary five years After he retired. It really is no consolation as his death will linger for a very long time. RIP to all who lost their lives.
